Steam-engine



(No Model.)

No. 41 0,45 l

3 Sheets-@Sheet 1. F. S. RUTTMANN.

STEAM ENGINE.

Patented Sept. 3, 1889 (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. F. S. RUTTMANN.STEAM ENGINE.

Patented Sept. 3, 1889'.

WZ/VESSES. te

(No Model.) s sheets-sheen a. P. S. RUTTMANN.

STEAM ENGINE.

No. 419,451. `Patented Sept. 3, 1889.

To all whom t may concern.'

. steam-engine, partly in section.

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FERDINAND S. RUTTMANN, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

STEAM-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 410,451, datedSeptember 3, 1889.

Application filed October 12, 1888. Serial No. 287,916. (No model.)

Be it known that I, FERDINAND S. BUTT- MANN, of Plainield, in the countyof Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Steam- Engines, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to an improved rotary engine which may beoperated with an elastic or non-elastic medium, and in which thesteam-cylinders and pistons are located within the iy-wheel and rotatedwith the same, the rotary motion being imparted to said iiy-wheel andcylinders by straps connecting a stationary eccentric si'dewise of thefly-wheel, through which the main shaft is passed, with the cross-headsof the piston-rods of the steam-cylinder.

The invention consists of certain details in the construction of arotary engine in which the cylinders, pistons, piston-rods,cross-heads,and cross-head guides are located radially to the center shaft of themachine and within the plane of the iiy-wheel, as will be fullydescribed hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a side elevation of myimproved vertical longitudinal section on lines Qc Fig. l. Fig. 3 is anelevation of the opposite side of the engine. Fig. Il is a plan of thesame. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are vertical transverse sections respectively onlines y, e, and 7c, Fig. 2, drawn on alarger scale; and Figs. 8 and 9are horizontal sections respectively on lines c c and Z l, Figs. 6 and7.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a fly-wheel, the hub of which issecured to a main shaft S, that turns in bearings a a of standards A A2,located at opposite sides of the shaft.

On the hub of the iiy-wheel A, and within the same, are arranged radialcylinders F, preferably three, so as to produce a uniform motion of theengine. The cylinders F are located equidistantly from each other andalternate with the radial arms of the flywheel A. The outer ends of thecylinders F are connected with the rim of the iiy-wheel A by means ofparallel guide-rails ff, which are Fig. 2 is av securely bolted to theend flanges of the cylinders and to the iiy-wheel, and which serve toguide the cross-heads jl! f, to which the piston-rods f2 of the pistonsF are pivoted, as shown clearly in Fig. 2. The pivot-pins f3 of vthecross-heads f2 are extended laterally beyond the rim of the ily-wheel A,and are connected to strap-rods H, which are applied by circular strapsor bands h to a stationary eccentric C, which is formed integral withthe supporting-standard A. The main shaft S passes through thestationary eccentric() and extends at both sides of the standards A A2,so as to be adapted for transmitting power from either end of the shaft.

To the opposite standard A2 is applied the steam-chest, with its supplyand exhaust pipes, the reversing-gear, and the cutoff valve. Thesteam-chestD is provided with a transverse partition d, which divides itinto two compartments or chambers T and U. The chamber T is providedwith a steam-supply pipe t, and the chamberU with an exhaust-pipe u. Thecylinders F communicate by passages z' in the fly-wheel A and main shaftS and port t" with an annular channel L, that is arranged in thestandard A2 around the shaft S, said channel being divided into twosemicircular parts by fixed abutments m m, of which one is locatedaround the upper part and the other around the lower part of the shaftS.

A cylindrical reversing-valve O is located above the upper abutment mand provided with ports r and s, which connect the annular channel L,respectively, with the chambers T and U of the steam-chest D. The portsfu and s are arranged at right angles to each other and communicate withthe channel L at opposite sides of the upper abutment m. The lower partof the exhaust-port s is made wide enough so as to communicate with theupper end of the annular channel L and with the exhaust-channel Q, asshown in Fig. G.

The annular channel L communicates, further, at both sides of the lowerabutment m by means of ports p19 with an annular exhaustchannel Q, whichis concentric to the channel L and arranged to communicate at its upperpart with the exhaust-port s in the reversing-valve O and at the lowerpart at each side of the lower abutment m with sep- IOO arateexhaust-passages p p ,each of which is provided with stop-valves. (Notshown in the drawings.)

In the annular channel L are arranged intermediately between theabutments m fm. longitudinal cut-off bars b b, which are connected tosemicircular guide-plates b', that are guided in recesses b2 of thesupportingstandard A2. The bars b b form with the plates b the cut-offvalve of the engine. One of the guide-plates b is provided at itscircumference with cogs or teeth, which mesh with a worm-screw b3, thatis Aapplied to a spindle b4, provided With a hand-wheel b5 at the outerend, as shown in Figs. 4c and 5. For the purpose of changing thepositions of the cut-off valve b b the spindle of the wormscrew b3 mayalso, be connected with a suit.- able governor (not shown in thedrawings) for the purpose of automatically regulating the speed of theengine to any desired degree ,correspondingly setting the cut-off valveThe spindle of the reversing-valve O is provided at its outer end with alever 0', by which the valve O may be turned on its axis and theposition of the ports r and s relatively to the chambers T and U andchannels L and Q changed. This action reverses the engine by convertingthe chamber T into the exhaust-chamber and the chamberU into thelive-steam chamber.

When live steam is admitted successively into the cylinders F, thepistons F and the cross-heads f of the piston-rods are moved radially inoutward direction, so that by the action of the connecting-rods H, whichare strapped to the stationary eccentric C, rotary motion is imparted tothe ily-wheel A, main shaft S, and the parts connected with the same.The steam passes from the live-steam chamber' T and the port r of thereversingvalve O into the annular channel L, and from the same throughthe port c" and the longitudinal channel 1l of the shaft S into thecylinders F. Live steam is supplied until the port e" has passed thefirst longitudinal bar b of the cut-off valve. After the port- 11 haspassed the lower abutment m the steam is exhausted from the cylinder Fthrough that part of the annular channel L which is located below thetransverse bar b at the opposite side of the shaft S and through theexhaustchannel Q and exhaust-port s of the reversing-valve O to theexhaust-chamber U and passed out through the exhaust-pipeu. After the'port il has passed the bar b of the cutof valve the exhaust-.steampasses directly through the annular channel L above said bar to theexhaust-port s, chamber U, and exhaust-pipe u. 4

When the engine is to be run continuously in one direction withoutrequiring to be reversed, the exhaust-steam may be passed through thepipes p', the valves of which may be opened, so as to give a freerexhaust. The advantages of my improved rotary engine are, that bylocating the cylinders, pistons, piston-rods, cross-heads, and crossheadguides within the plane of the iiywheel a very compact construction ofthe engine is obtained, while hardly any packing of the parts isrequired. Rotary motion is produced by the strap-connection of thecross-heads with the stationary eccentric,

which is located outside of the ilywheel.-

All the parts can be readily inspected and the engine be quicklyreversed and Worked at different degrees of speed by the cut-offarrangement, so that the same is adapted to a wide range of applicationin the arts.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patentl. The combination of a central shaft, radial cylindersmounted on said shaft, a flywheel concentric to said shaft, guide-railsconnecting the cylinders and iiy-wheel, crossheads connected to thepiston-rods of the cylinders, a stationary eccentric surrounding theshaft, and strap-rods applied to the stationary eccentric outside of theplane of the fly-wheel and pivoted to the cross-heads, substantially asset forth.

2. The combination of supporting-standards having bearings, a centralshaft supported on said bearings, a stationary eccentric surroundingsaid shaft and forming a part of one of the standards, radial cylindersmounted on said shaft, a fly-wheel concentric to said shaft, guide-railsconnecting the cylinder and fly-wheel, cross-heads connected to thepiston-rods of the cylinders, and strap-rods applied to the stationaryeccentric and pivoted to the cross-heads outside of the plane of thefly-wheel, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a central shaft having longitudinal channelsand ports, of cylinders mounted radially on said shaft, a {1y-wheelextending around said cylinders, guide-rails connecting the cylindersand iyf wheel, cross-heads for the piston-rods, a stationary eccentricsurrounding said shaft, strap-rods pivoted to the cross-heads andapplied to said eccentric, a steam-chest having a transverse partitionforming a live-steam and an exhaust chamber, annular steamchannelsaround the shaft, abutments in said channels, and a cylindricalreversing-valve IOO IIO

having ports atright angles to each other, subfor the piston-rods guidedin said rails, a

stationary eccentric located outside of the fly-wheel and surroundingthe central shaft, strap-rods pivoted to the cross-heads and applied tothe eccentric, a steam-chest having a transverse partition forming alive-steam and exhaust chamber, annular steam-supply and exhaustChannels communicating with In testimony that I Claim the foregoing asthe ports and Channels in the shaft, a oylinmy invention I have signedmy name in presdrioal reversing-valve having steam-supply ence of twosubscribing Witnesses. and exhaust ports at right angles to each 5other, abutments located in the annular sup- FERDINAND S. RUTTMANN.

' ply-Channel at the upper and lower part of the same, a out-O valvehaving longitudinal lVitnesses: bars located in the steam-supplychannel,and PAUL GOEPEL, mechanism for setting said out-01T valve, sub- MARTINPETRY.

Io stantially as set forth.

